CEP Cosmétique: an airless pump unlike any other
The French company, based in Thiers, around 40 kilometers from Clermont-Ferrand, is banking heavily on its new “CepAirless” pump bottle, protected by six patents, which it has been marketing for four months and describes as ‘revolutionary’ with its pump motor and particularly innovative valve, which, according to its CEO, allows for “exceptional” smooth operation and dosing precision. An innovation that comes at just the right time! Explanations by Pierre Dambricourt, CEO.
CEP Cosmétique has a turnover of €17 million, including €5 million in China, and employs 100 people in France. The company produces a complete range of tubes, lids, caps, and applicators for the cosmetics and parapharmacy industries. More than 30 patents filed over the past 20 years cover a wide range of issues related to the packaging of skin care creams. “We have become a major player in these markets,” explains Pierre Dambricourt, "by focusing our strategy on the in-house design and development of exclusive products and concepts that showcase the brands and products of the biggest names in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. In the flexible tube business, we are the only manufacturer to offer both injection and coextrusion. Among the products we offer is a range of flexible injected tubes (protected by numerous patents) that represent a real technological breakthrough compared to the traditional extrusion process. This technology offers brands the opportunity to revolutionize their sampling policy, both through the resulting cost improvements and the new features offered (sample tubes, mini mascara, breakable and resealable sample tubes). It should be noted that in order to meet the constraints of certain creams, the French firm has been offering co-extruded tubes with additional cream barrier protection for several years. Another example of CEP Cosmétique’s capacity for innovation is the creation of a sample mascara that provides a makeup experience identical to the retail model (the mascara brush and lip gloss applicator are the same as those used in the retail model). An eco-designed set limited to three components (minimum weight, specific studies for PCR or bio-based polymers on specific request). The first tester in a real-life situation at the price of a sample.
“Revolutionary!”
That’s an understatement, according to Pierre Dambricourt, when describing his new “CepAirless Original,” which has been commercially available since last summer. “Our technology combines features that have never been offered simultaneously before,” he emphasizes. “Its main qualities are smooth operation, exceptional dosing precision, and extreme protection of the cream thanks to an innovative pump motor and valves.” “CepAirless Original” is protected by six patents. This technology provides “smooth” and perfectly consistent pressure throughout the push button’s stroke with excellent dosing precision (from 0 to 0.15 ml nominal dose). “Every customer obviously wants to optimize the amount of cream used with the greatest possible precision,” emphasizes Pierre Dambricourt. "And this is the first closure made exclusively from plastic that provides a secure seal around the opening. It is a product that is entirely eco-designed in accordance with CITEO and COTREP recommendations. CepAirless is recyclable using a standard industrial process without any prior disassembly or sorting (eco-friendly pump, elimination of all metal components, total weight of pump and container (40 ml) limited to 24.5 grams, 100% recyclable. Screen printing and hot stamping eliminate the need for non-recyclable paper and glue).
Next year and beyond...
“In 2026, our development efforts will focus on expanding the CepAirless range and launching a mini lip gloss pack,” explains Pierre Dambricourt. As for the impact of environmental constraints and increased customs duties on the company, the answers are clear:
"In the cosmetics and parapharmacy packaging business, our customers are mainly French: the effect of customs duties is reflected in the sales of brands affected by exports to the US. It is difficult to analyze the impact of this phenomenon on sales trends, as each brand is affected differently. We have noticed a decline in our direct exports to the US, but these sales only represent a few percent of our total turnover. It is therefore difficult to make a direct connection. As for the environment, it is worth remembering that packaging fulfills multiple functions: packaging for purchase and transport, protection against external damage (impact, oxidation, etc.), design enabling product use, etc. Human ingenuity (materials, design, manufacturing, etc.) has enabled incredible advances in performing these functions with ever-greater efficiency and at ever-lower prices. Packaging has one last essential function: it is a vehicle for communication and image. In short, it has become inseparable from consumer society, from a world where material goods and image reign supreme. This world is not perfect; it is missing “something” and has “negative externalities.” I note that this is the world of consumers that we are, where citizens and sometimes human beings are somewhat (very much, passionately) absent... and where packaging, rather than a symbol, is a good scapegoat. When it comes to packaging, as with many things, we always want more (more features, more guarantees, lower prices, etc.), but we always want less (less pollution, fewer problems with our conscience, etc.). Spot the mistake!
All this is fine for a philosophy essay, but what about in real life? Well, we try to adapt to the demands of brands, which themselves are certainly trying their best to adapt to the (contradictory) needs of consumer-citizens... and to regulatory requirements. More single-material, more weight reduction, more PCR... The fact remains that in the economic world, consumers must be prepared to pay the price for their new demands. All our products are made entirely of plastic that is easily recyclable on current sorting lines: our ranges of mini tubes, mini mascara and mini lip gloss are made from a single material, with a proportion of PCR material (exceeding 30%) or 100% chemically recycled material. Reducing plastic weight is obviously something we are working on: we offer a breakable and resealable mini tube up to 3 ml, made from a single material and weighing only 1.3 g. This pack also allows the cream to be completely dispensed.
As for our CepAirless Original pump bottle, it is designed without metal (recyclable on current sorting lines). It allows 97% of the cream to be dispensed and can incorporate up to 15% PCR material.
SINCE 1923!
CEP is a family-owned industrial company founded in 1923 and present in two main markets: office accessories and equipment for businesses (a range of letter trays, pencil pots, small filing furniture, etc.) and packaging for cosmetics and parapharmacy (mini tubes, mini mascara, standard or specific caps and lids). The group has two subsidiaries: the first activity is housed at CEP Solutions, the second at CEP Cosmétique. The common thread linking these activities is the transformation of plastics, mainly by injection molding. The company was bought in 1985 by Mr. Géry Dambricourt, who passed it on to his son, Pierre, at the turn of the 2020s.
Since 2012, the group has also had a subsidiary in China specializing in LED lighting. The economic difficulties faced by the group led Pierre Dambricourt to file for RJ proceedings in January 2026. Steps have been taken to return to profitability and ensure the company’s long-term future.
One of the company’s unique features is the integration of a Development Department consisting of a Design Office and a workshop for the manufacture of injection molding tools and special machines (for decoration, assembly, and quality control), which enable it to offer significant innovations to the market on the one hand, and to respond to specific customer needs (offering technical solutions within a short timeframe). The company currently has just under 100 employees and a turnover of €17 million (excluding China) generated in France and in many other countries, mainly in Europe. In the business equipment market, exports account for around 40% of sales, and in the cosmetics packaging market, around 15%.
